Pia Kamimura always said she wanted to marry a chef, and, in the end, she got her wish.
Back when she was producing the popular cooking show "Wolfgang Puck," Pia met chef Seisuke Kamimura on the set. The two have been together ever since. They started making their mark on the Seattle food scene in October 2001 as executive chef (he) and general manager (she) of Bada Lounge. Now Queen Anne is getting a taste of the Kamimuras' culinary expertise at their new shop, Les Cadeaux Gourmets.
Les Cadeaux offers the finest and rarest culinary concoctions and accessories, as well as cookbooks, house-wares and skin-care products. Marie Belle chocolates, Bernardaud china and Verithe tea candy are just a few of the offerings that will lure even the most discriminating connoisseur.
The Kamimuras subtitled their store "an epicurean boutique" to highlight its intimate atmosphere and the specialty nature of their products. "The idea was to lay it out like a boutique, like what you would find in a women's clothing store or jewelry store," explains Pia, a Seattle native who won a 2002 Emmy award for her work on "Puck." In their efforts to locate the highest-quality goods, Pia and Seisuke relied on international travel, artisan farmers and more than a decade of experience in the gourmet food industry. They say the product selection represents "the best we could find of each thing," and that they use many of the items in their own home.
The owners envision Les Cadeaux as a place where Seattle's food and wine communities can come together to hang out, converse and share ideas. "I think food has a lot to do with under-standing the culture," remarks Seisuke, who studied at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan. "Food is such a great language." He says the goal of Les Cadeaux is "to bring people together through food and entertaining."
At Les Cadeaux, the Kamimuras have created a relaxed East-West fusion. While the sleek fixtures and Japanese street photography are a tribute to the couple's Asian ancestry (Pia is Korean, Seisuke is Japanese), the shop's French name - "gourmet gifts" in English - adds a European ambiance.
Though unquestionably modern, Les Cadeaux has a down-to-earth feel. Pia and Seisuke treat their customers like friends and guests, offering them samples and in-depth explanations of their products. "We want to bring it back to an age where people spend time together," says Seisuke. Pia hopes to follow in the footsteps of her parents, both small-business owners who have developed strong relationships with their clients. She likes the small size of Les Cadeaux because it makes it eas-ier to "touch each customer, one by one."
Both Kamimuras say the commu-nity's reception to Les Cadeaux has been "extremely positive." Customers are already requesting cooking classes, which the owners plan to offer soon. A Kamimura gourmet sauce line is also in the works.
Some customers have asked if Les Cadeaux is part of a chain, a comment the couple find flattering. Though they admit more stores might be in their future, right now they're just enjoying the positive vibe here in Queen Anne.
"We just want to grow into things," says Seisuke.
Pia adds, "We can feel that this is such a supportive community, and we are so happy to be a part of that."
Stacy Torian is a freelance writer residing in Queen Anne.
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